Tech Hut

The power supply to a computer is often the most underappreciated component of a computer and can well be a key to better, faster and smoother computer speeds of your computer.

But who ever thinks of that silver box tucked away in the back of your computer?

Most people simply have the power supply that came installed in their computer. If it ever overheats and breaks down, stopping their computer from starting dead cold, that is the only time most computer users ever think of, replace or upgrade their computer.

Imagine if you had an erratic source of electricity to your home that was sparkly, erratic or underpowered. In the same way if the power supply is an inexpensive one it may be erratic in its power output. You may well have upgraded your computer – added drives , added a second cd/dvd reader or burner, a new powerful video card , or a number of external USB devices – whether they be mice, keyboards , external drives powered by the USB port alone , and never thought that you were taxing your limited amperage power supply. All of this extra power usage by these new components that you have added to your computer without thinking of the consequences on your already stretched power supply can both dampen your computer performance and shorten the life of your power supply.

How is computer power supplies rated? Computer power supplies are usually rated by amperage. However this is a peak amperage measurement. This can be of a most optimistic rating. Late in the day – a couple of technicians overseas snap one or two of the better examples of their factories workmanship onto a load meter. They snap on the power briefly and note – did you see that – 500 watts. I’m sure I saw 500 watts says technician number 2 and even 3 and they mark the test results down. And if the numbers do not jive absolutely it can always be blamed on batch consistency or even a different group of products. For after all isn’t it a test of average load of a number of transformers.

Everything in life as they say comes down to practical logistics.

Most of the mass market computer that you will find in big box stores etc is mass produced. This has advantages of low cost and easy repair at the factory. The product has been set up and tested. If there is a problem with the computer it can be easily fixed, in, most cases with a simple swap of components at the factory. The computer model and its common problems and fixes are well known. The flip side is that the components have been carefully sought out, extensively tested and component quality shaved down to the bone.

As a result you do not have a lot of leeway with power supply to any upgrades or simple USB hardware additions to your computer system. Thus it is a wise idea to replace your power supply.

How can you judge which power supplies are better than others. First of all you can do a rough judgment by weight. The better power supplies will have a lot more copper metal in their transformer and will be much heavier. Inexpensive power supplies are very lightweight. You will notice the heavier weight of better power supplies immediately.

Next the better power supplies will have higher wattage. 200 – 300 watts may be fine for older Pentium 2s and 3s; newer computers may well need a minimum of 350 – 400 watts or more. It is not only power in watts but the consistency that matters. The better power supplies will be marked with consistent power output levels on their markings. As well they may be marked as having dual or more channels, What this means is that there are two or more entirely separate power supply channels, Thus there will be one distinct channel of power for the motherboard and another for the peripherals. When a DVD drive comes on it the power supply to the motherboard will not diminish even for a second.

Your computer speed will be smooooooooth.

The last thing to note is either the amount of plug outputs and the amount fans built into the power supply. The better power supplies will have the luxury of providing lots of extra plugs – both for convenience, and the expandability their power supply offers.

As well there may be extra fans to properly cool the better, more powerful power supplies. Even though there may be extra fans, the power supply over may be incredibly quiet due to the higher quality ball bearing based gearings and advanced sophisticated heat sensing power switching controls.

The ac power supply of your computer may well be the most unappreciated taken for granted component of your computer. A better power supply can be one of the keys to increasing the speed and consistent performance of your computer especially as you upgrade your computer adds new components. Might be a good idea to invest in a new. High quality computer power supply.

Computer Prod. 514807 Power Supply Open Frame Computer $60.40

6' Computer Power Supply Cord / Lot of 10 for $20.00 $20.00

5' Computer Power Supply Cord / Lot of 10 for $20.00 $20.00

Computer Products 790322-001 Power Supply Open Frame Re $317.25

Computer Products 700322-001 Power Supply Open Frame Re $317.25

Computer Products NFN140-7630 Power Supply Open Frame R $317.25

Black Recliner Power Rest Computer Office Desk Chair $310.92

Computer Products XL125-3602/4602 Power Supply 200w Ope $513.75

Computer Products 13842-03 Power Supply 200w Open Frame $513.75

Computer Products 013842-03 NEW Power Supply 200w Open $582.25

Computer Products XL125-3602 NEW Power Supply 200w Ope $582.25

2 Internal Computer Power Supply Cable Cord Y Splitter $6.09

Computer Products 720055-01 Power Supply 720055-01 $58.89

Computer Products NFS40-7608_NEW Power Supply Nfs40-760 $52.85

Computer Products 720132-77_NEW Power Supply 720132-77 $58.89

Computer Products XL200-3601/4601 Power Supply 300w Ope $1,012.50

Computer Products 015623-01 Power Supply 300w Open Fram $1,012.50

Computer Prod. 720029-02 Power Supply Open Frame $97.50

Computer/Monitor Power Cable $5.00

Computer-Aided Power Systems Analysis NEW $192.82

SATA computer Power Cable 4 pin to 15 pin adapter $5.94

NEW 3 Prong Pin HP DESKTOP PC COMPUTER CABLE POWER CORD $0.99

SATA computer Power Cable 4 pin to 15 pin adapter Blue $5.94

Laptop Buddy Computer Cooling Fan Stand with USB Power $13.49

SATA computer Power Cable 4 pin to 15 pin adapter Red $5.94

SATA computer Power Cable 4 pin to 15 pin adapter Green $5.94

NEW PK 600W Computer POWER SUPPLY FAN 20/24 pin SATA P4 $9.98

New Antec Mini Mid Tower Computer PC Case Power Supply $12.50

POWER CORD CABLE For Dell Dimension PC Computer Monitor $0.99

AC Notebook Computer Power Adapter with USB Power Port $136.92

2 Internal Computer Power Supply Cable Cord Y Splitter $6.09

BSTAR 650W COMPUTER ATX GOLD POWER SUPPLY 20/24PIN SATA $9.89

NEW 3 Prong Pin HP DESKTOP PC COMPUTER CABLE POWER CORD $0.99

AT POWER SUPPLY OPEN FRAME 120V FANLESS COMPUTER $49.00

Laptop Buddy Computer Cooling Fan Stand with USB Power $13.49

OEM Apple Mac Mini COMPUTER AC POWER SUPPLY 110W lot=10 $260.00

3 Prong Pin AC Power Cord Cable For PC Desktop Computer $4.29

2 400 Watt ATX CPU Power Supply Computer SATA $9.99

NEW 400-Watt POWER SUPPLY Intel AMD PC Desktop Computer $6.29

New 650W Power Supply 4 AMD INTEL PC Computer Gold $9.89

New 650W Power Supply 4 AMD INTEL PC Computer Gold $8.49

NU 400W ATX 12V Computer Power Supply Desktop PC PSU PS $6.29

Laptop Buddy Computer Cooling Fan Stand with USB Power $13.49

Internal PC Computer 4 pin Power Cable Y Splitter New $1.00

NEW COMPUTER PRODUCTS POWER MODULE PM552 DC SUPPLY $19.99

Solar Panel Power 13 W cordless tool Computer Charger $64.95

Solar Panel Power 13W Portable Kit Computer w Battery $129.95

Computer Desktop Monitor PC AC Power Adapter Cable Cord $0.99

3-Prong Viewsonic LCD Computer monitor Power cord cable $2.88

328 ATX Mid-Tower Computer PC Case 450w Power Supply $49.95

POWER CORD CABLE For Dell Dimension PC Computer Monitor $0.99

100W Universal AC Laptop computer power Adapter,supply $24.00

BSTAR 650W COMPUTER ATX GOLD POWER SUPPLY 20/24PIN SATA $8.49

jpac910ps cube microATX computer case no power supply $28.99

jpac910ps cube microATX computer case no power supply $28.99

jpac910ps cube microATX computer case no power supply $28.99

NEW ITX ATX, BTX Power Supply Tester 20/24 Pin Computer $6.99

5' PC Desktop Computer System Monitor POWER CORD CABLE $2.98

3 Prong POWER CORD CABLE For Dell PC Computer & Monitor $0.98

Power Mac G4 M8493 Computer w Keyboard and Adobe $99.95

SONAR POWER STUDIO 250 USB AUDIO MIDI Computer PC New $449.95

Apple Mac mini Computer 110W Power Adapter/Charger+Cord $29.99

NEW 400-Watt ATX Computer Power Supply Desktop PC 400W $6.88

BSTAR 650W COMPUTER ATX GOLD POWER SUPPLY 20/24PIN SATA $9.89

Computer Concepts 3COMC0001 Power Supply LOT of 2 $15.99

Computer products Power Distribution Unit CP278 PDD $49.95

Black ATX Desktop Computer PC Case w/ Power Supply NEW $44.95

NEW 400-Watt ATX Computer Power Supply Desktop PC 400W $8.09

New HIGH POWER Energy Star 550W Computer PSU Supply 80+ $64.00

HP DESKTOP PC COMPUTER CABLE POWER CORD NEW 3 Prong Pin $2.98

600 WATT POWER SUPPLY Intel AMD PC Desktop Computer NEW $8.89

90-93 acura integra OEM power door lock module computer $25.00

COMPUTER: Apple Power Macintosh G3- Desktop $140.00

COMPUTER: Apple Power Macintosh G3- Desktop $140.00

Runner Mid Tower PC Computer Case 600 Watt Power Supply $79.95

NEW 400-Watt POWER SUPPLY Intel AMD PC Desktop Computer $8.09

BSTAR 650W COMPUTER ATX GOLD POWER SUPPLY 20/24PIN SATA $9.99

Computer Desktop Monitor PC AC Power Adapter Cable Cord $0.89

Dell Computer USB Printer Power Cord NEW 2.0 6' Cable $0.99

3 Prong POWER CORD CABLE For Dell PC Computer & Monitor $1.69

6Ft Computer Power Cord Black / SJT 18/3 SF-31+87 11102 $4.08

HP DESKTOP PC COMPUTER CABLE POWER CORD NEW 3 Prong Pin $2.39

6Ft Computer/Monitor Power Cord Black Standard 20000 $4.99

HP DESKTOP PC COMPUTER CABLE POWER CORD NEW 3 Prong Pin $2.39

UNIVERSAL AC COMPUTER POWER CABLES $0.99

NEW 6 FEET STANDARD COMPUTER AC POWER CABLE $1.99

NU 400W ATX 12V Computer Power Supply Desktop PC PSU PS $8.09

Burgundy Power Rest Recliner Computer Office Desk Chair $311.92

CORSAIR TX950W Computer Power Supply CMPSU-950TX ATX $179.95

Power Cable, Computers, Monitors, Printers, NEW 3 Prong $1.99

3 Prong POWER CORD CABLE For Dell PC Computer & Monito $3.49

POWER CORD COMPUTER MONITER A/C 110V 10A FOXCONN QTY20 $14.99

Windows NT Power Tools Book~Computers~Great Resource $0.99

500 Watt 24/20-pin ATX Computer PC Power Supply w/SATA $9.99

New 650W Power Supply 4 AMD INTEL PC Computer Gold $9.89

DELL PC COMPUTER MULTIMEDIA SPEAKERS W/POWER ADAPTER $5.99

2 PK 4 PIN INTERNAL PC COMPUTER POWER SPLITTER Y CABLE $6.09

High Performance 550w Computer Power Supply PSU 80p $14.99

Cables To Go 20941 15FT COMPUTER POWER CORD EXT $13.95

600 WATT POWER SUPPLY Intel AMD PC Desktop Computer NEW $9.99